Sister city program achievements

The Sister Cities Program has documented many achievements over the years, but perhaps the most enlightening aspect is the time and dedication given by the program's 30 appointed and many other non-appointed committee members. These people attend meetings and assist with visiting delegations, host visitors and participate in program activities. Indeed, it is the largest volunteer group associated with any Darwin City Council operation.

Key program achievements so far have included:

•  More than 40 student exchanges to date, through Ambon , Anchorage and Haikou .

•  Visits from civic leaders, government, business and community groups, students, sporting and performing arts groups.

•  Professional and commercial exchanges, eg an exchange has been signed by the NT University, Ambon University and Kupang University through our sister city relationship, resulting in a flow of staff and information/computer project exchanges.

•  Many exchanges of cultural books, videos, tapes and recordings, radio programs, cultural exhibitions, painting and photographs.

•  A 16-week reciprocal exchange of three professional librarians between Darwin 's NT University library and the Ambon Public/University library (assisted by a $3000 Rotary Club of Darwin North grant).

•  A $5872 grant from the Australia Indonesia Institute enabled an Ambonese cultural dance group to visit Darwin and perform at a Government House charity fundraising event, as well as at the Amphitheatre and most Darwin schools.

•  Funding of $3000 was donated by the Directors of Overseas Investment (Australia Pty Ltd) to DYSCO to assist three Haikou exchange students to attend an ASCA National Conference in Broken Hill.

Another major achievement was the liaison between Darwin City Council and the Mayor of Ambon to help set up a consultancy involving the NT University School of Nursing, the Government Hospital in Ambon and Ambon health authorities. The Australia-Indonesia Institute funded project was designed to establish cooperative nursing development programs.

Darwin City Council's significant role through the Sister City relationship with Ambon was a catalyst for the Memorandum of Cooperation between NT University and the two Eastern Indonesian Universities . Since that time, 3 more universities have joined the memorandum.

Other special program highlights, in chronological order, have included the following:

•  In 1990, 209 delegates attended the National Sister City Conference in Darwin . The turnover for this convention alone was $48,792 and Council profited to the tune of $5139 with the help of many volunteers.

•  In May 1994, The Mayor of Haikou visited Darwin with a business delegation to further the Sister City relationship and establish business and educational contacts.

•  In March 1995, Darwin Lord Mayor George Brown led a business, education and tourism delegation to Ambon . The Darwin Youth Sister City Organisation (DYSCO) was part of the delegation.

•  In February 1995, The Darwin-Ambon sister city relationship was selected by the world local government organization, IULA (International Union of Local Authorities), to participate in a joint Municipal International Cooperation project.

•  In August 1995, cultural dancers from Haikou visited Darwin and performed at the Bougainvillea Festival. A grant from the NT Office of Arts and Cultural Affairs assisted this project.

•  In April 1996, Darwin Lord Mayor George Brown led a business and education delegation to Haikou . DYSCO were also represented on the delegation.

•  In July 2003, a Gull Force Memorial Plaque was dedicated at Bicentennial Park in honour of those Australians who became Prisoners of War on Hainan Island during World War II.

•  In 2003, assistance was provided to Ambon through a joint aid project with Medecins Sans Frontiers, to deliver solutions in relation to a Rabies emergency.

•  In 2003, a computer was donated to school in Kalymnos, so that students could join in on-line projects and 'virtual' exchanges.

•  In August 2003, new affiliations were formed with Kibi-Cho, Darwin 's first formal ' Friendship City '.

•  In September 2003, s Lord Mayoral Delegation travelled to Haikou for a ceremony to a sister city Gull Force Memorial plaque.

•  In September 2003, the first new international Sister City agreement in more than 13 years, was signed with Dili in East Timor .

•  In February 2004, the Ambon photographic exhibition, 'Reborn - Ambon after the Conflict', came to Darwin to raise community awareness of the plight of Ambon 's people.